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[Ding!]
[Soul restoration progress: Complete!]
[Body restoration progress: Complete!]
[Initiating soul-body fusion!]
[Fusing... Fusion failed!]
[Reattempting fusion... Fusion failed!]
[Reinitiating fusion...]
[Failed... Failed... Failed...]
[Ding! Reinitializing diagnostic scan... Scanning...]
[Detecting fragment of host soul wandering within Demon Slayer Corps. Expected return: 10 minutes!]
Seeing the diagnostic results, the System understood immediately. Its host carried profound attachments—unable to abandon his sister or the Corps members. During soul restoration, he'd somehow separated a fragment to check on them.
After all, one hour in System Life Space equaled one month externally. Who knew what might unfold during that time? Hence this situation.
[Sigh... You never value yourself properly.]
The System decided to wait for its host's return. However, gazing at Kaido's body, that mischievous smile returned.
[Hopefully when the host awakens after successful fusion and discovers he's temporarily become female, he won't blame me... Otherwise... hehehe! slurp]
To dress its host in feminine clothing, the System had temporarily transformed him during unconsciousness—even enlarging the chest considerably. All to satisfy certain small private desires. Nothing more.
Of course, everything would revert to male form afterward. Otherwise, a certain beloved girl would be heartbroken.
━━━━━━━━
Kaido's soul fragment currently drifted through Corps territory. Wearing a mask and the uniform the System had once rewarded him, he wandered every location.
First stop: the Butterfly Mansion. Seeing everyone receiving treatment brought relief.
Though watching Tengen being pampered by his three wives sparked envy—one administering medicine, another changing bandages, the third providing massage.
Truly: "Who needs heaven or ducks when you've got the Sound Hashira's daily routine!"
Kanae sensed a familiar gaze at the doorway. Looking toward the entrance—nothing.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I thought Kaido-kun was..."
The other Hashira dismissed it as hallucination. Yet weren't they experiencing the same phantom sensations?
"Hsss~" Kaburamaru seemed to sense something, descending from Obanai's neck to crawl toward the door—stopping at the threshold.
"Kaburamaru, what's wrong?" Obanai's confusion was evident.
The snake raised its upper body at the doorway, eyes seemingly tracking something—feeling that familiar presence.
Kaido's soul crouched down, reaching to pet Kaburamaru's head. But the spectral hand passed straight through, unable to make contact.
Behind the mask, Kaido smiled. He spoke words—uncertain if Kaburamaru could hear—but the snake obediently crawled back to Obanai.
"Is it really Kaido-kun coming to check on us?" Mitsuri wondered aloud.
━━━━━━━━
The next room held Tanjiro's trio receiving treatment.
Zenitsu's complaints about medicine were predictably dramatic—until Nezuko appeared. Then he transformed completely, pinching his nose and downing the dose immediately—desperate to display masculine fortitude.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Yet Tanjiro's mood carried undertones of loss and guilt.
"Brother, are you thinking about Kaido-niisan again?" Nezuko had perceived her brother's troubled thoughts.
"Nezuko, if I'd taken Muzan's attack instead of Kaido-san, would he still be with us?"
This time Nezuko fell silent. She knew the battle's details.
If Kaido hadn't protected her brother, what would've happened to him?
Zenitsu, Inosuke, and other patients absorbed those words, falling into contemplation...
This past month, no one had truly recovered from Kaido's death. But the one suffering most was his sister.
Though Retsuki sometimes helped at the Butterfly Mansion caring for the wounded, insisting she was fine—they all knew she returned home and cried alone.
After checking on them, Kaido's soul departed.
Suddenly Tanjiro glanced toward the doorway. A familiar sensation bloomed in his chest—he seemed to see someone standing there watching them.
"Kaido-san?"
"Brother, what are you saying?"
"Nezuko, I think I saw Kaido-san. He was just standing at the door!"
"Brother... I've heard that when someone dies with unfinished business, they return as spirits to visit. I believe Kaido-niisan couldn't let everyone go, so he came back to see us."
"Is that it? If only Kaido-san were still here... Nezuko, I want to take a walk."
"Okay, I'll support you. Tamayo-san said your wounds haven't healed—no strenuous movement."
Tanjiro's hand rested atop Nezuko's head, ruffling her hair gently. "Thank you, Nezuko."
━━━━━━━━
At the Ubuyashiki estate's courtyard, the family of seven sat alongside Ruka and Shinjuro Rengoku, Jigoro Kuwajima, and Sakonji Urokodaki—handling final administrative matters with meticulous precision.
Kagaya's gaze suddenly shifted toward the courtyard. He smiled.
"Kagaya, what are you looking at?"
Seeing her husband smile at the empty courtyard, Amane was puzzled.
The others noticed Kagaya's behavior too—uncertain what prompted it. They saw nothing themselves.
"That child Kaido has returned to check on everyone."
"I see." Understanding dawned on Amane.
Though she saw nothing, she'd also felt that familiar gaze observing them all.
Together they rose, moving into the courtyard and bowing deeply. "Child, thank you."
'Is it really you, Kaido?' Sakonji wondered silently.
Kaido waved to them before departing. One person remained—the one he couldn't abandon most.
He arrived at his own estate.
Retsuki stood in the courtyard, another familiar figure before her—Hotaru Haganezuka.
"Retsuki-san, I'm sorry! I heard what happened. This is partially my fault! If I'd forged Kaido a better weapon than anyone else's, his greatsword wouldn't have broken—he wouldn't have left you!"
Despite his eccentric temperament, Hotaru was a dedicated swordsmith.
He believed his insufficient skill had failed to produce adequate weaponry—costing Kaido his life. The responsibility weighed on him.
Initially, hearing Kaido had broken his forged blade sparked fury. But learning of Kaido's death—self-recrimination consumed him...
Every swordsmith at the village hoped to forge superior weapons enabling Corps members to slay more demons in combat.
Though swordsmen sometimes broke their weapons during battle—prompting anger—they continued forging replacements. Especially for Hashira-level warriors.
"Haganezuka-san, please raise your head!"
Watching the bowing swordsmith, Retsuki's tone carried no blame whatsoever.
"Haganezuka-san, my brother said your weapons were excellent and powerful. He once told me that without your craftsmanship, he never would've survived to the end. Please don't blame yourself—that's not what my brother would want. And I thank you for being willing to forge weapons for my beloved brother."
"Retsuki-san... thank you."
Hearing her words brought Hotaru some measure of comfort. He departed the courtyard shortly after.
As Retsuki prepared to return inside, her heart suddenly stirred. That profoundly familiar sensation—identical to being with her brother—bloomed within her.
She turned, gaze sweeping the courtyard—searching for that warmth.
"Kaido-niisan, is that you?"
No response came. Retsuki refused surrender. Walking into the courtyard, she closed her eyes—following her heart's guidance.
The sensation led her forward until she stopped directly before Kaido's spectral form. Eyes remained shut, carefully perceiving that familiar warmth.
One hand pressed against her heart. The other extended forward—as though touching Kaido's face.
Though nothing physical existed there, her heart knew he stood before her. Her hand felt as though it caressed his features.
"Kaido-niisan, you couldn't let me go, could you? But I... I miss you so much."
Kaido's arms encircled Retsuki. Though the spirit passed through her physical form, this time she genuinely felt the embrace—and responded with closed eyes.
"Kaido-niisan, no matter what happens, I'll wait for you. No matter how long—I'm willing."
Hearing those words, Kaido received the answer he'd sought. Understanding crystallized.
After arriving in this world, he could no longer let go.
Here, someone he loved waited for him. Companions hoped for his return.
He decided: he would stay.
━━━━━━━━
[Ding! Host soul has returned. Initiating fusion!]
[Fusing...]
[...70%... 80%... 90%... 100%]
[Fusion successful! Estimated awakening time: 1 hour.]
Seeing Kaido's soul fragment finally return, the System immediately initiated fusion.
Fortunately, the process proceeded smoothly. He'd awaken within one hour.
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